LEONIA — A Superior Court judge has reversed the Borough Council’s appointment of several high-ranking fire company officers, who were named to their posts last month over firefighters’ objections.

Rather than confirm the individuals chosen by members of the fire company, the council instead opted in January to put in place officials of their own choosing. Traditionally, the firefighters decide amongst themselves who will serve as their chief, deputy chief, captain and lieutenants.

The council named James McArdle the deputy chief and made Ronald Chace a lieutenant, even though they had not been elected by the firefighters. The council also appointed Daniel Neu a lieutenant, despite being chosen by his colleagues to be their deputy chief.

The appointments were the latest salvo in an ongoing legal battle between the borough and Leonia Volunteer Fire Co. 1 over revised regulations that give the council more oversight over the fire department. The regulations were imposed after the 3-year-old son of a firefighter was allegedly molested at the firehouse in June by a developmentally disabled teenager who had wanted to join the volunteer department.

The council briefly suspended the fire company and shut down the firehouse in the wake of the reported assault. It has since been reopened, but firefighters can use it only in emergencies and to maintain firefighting equipment.

After the appointments were made, the fire company and its president, Brendan Reilly, filed an order to show cause asking that they be invalidated and that the borough be prevented from further enforcing the new regulations until the fire company litigation is resolved.

On Thursday, Superior Court Judge Lisa Perez Friscia ruled that the borough’s appointments should be stayed. She further ruled that the officers elected by the fire company to lead the department in 2014 should be allowed to take up their posts.

“We are hopeful that this interim order opens the borough’s eyes to some of the inappropriateness of their actions,” said the fire company’s attorney, Mark Semeraro.

The borough’s attorney, Brian Giblin, declined to comment on the judge’s decision because he said he has not yet had a chance to discuss it with his client.